The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra. Уильям Шекспир

witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both;

          Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,

          Keep his brain fuming. Epicurean cooks

          Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite,

          That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour

          Even till a Lethe'd dullness-

      Enter VARRIUS

          How now, Varrius!

        VARRIUS. This is most certain that I shall deliver:

          Mark Antony is every hour in Rome

          Expected. Since he went from Egypt 'tis

          A space for farther travel.

        POMPEY. I could have given less matter

          A better ear. Menas, I did not think

          This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm

          For such a petty war; his soldiership

          Is twice the other twain. But let us rear

          The higher our opinion, that our stirring

          Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck

          The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.

        MENAS. I cannot hope

          Caesar and Antony shall well greet together.

          His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;

          His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,

          Not mov'd by Antony.

        POMPEY. I know not, Menas,

          How lesser enmities may give way to greater.

          Were't not that we stand up against them all,

          'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves;

          For they have entertained cause enough

          To draw their swords. But how the fear of us

          May cement their divisions, and bind up

          The petty difference we yet not know.

          Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands

          Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.

          Come, Menas. Exeunt

      SCENE II. Rome. The house of LEPIDUS

      Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS

        LEPIDUS. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,

          And shall become you well, to entreat your captain

          To soft and gentle speech.

        ENOBARBUS. I shall entreat him

          To answer like himself. If Caesar move him,

          Let Antony look over Caesar's head

          And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,

          Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

          I would not shave't to-day.

        LEPIDUS. 'Tis not a time

          For private stomaching.

        ENOBARBUS. Every time

          Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

        LEPIDUS. But small to greater matters must give way.

        ENOBARBUS. Not if the small come first.

        LEPIDUS. Your speech is passion;

          But pray you stir no embers up. Here comes

          The noble Antony.

      Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS

      ENOBARBUS. And yonder, Caesar.

      Enter CAESAR, MAECENAS, and AGRIPPA

        ANTONY. If we compose well here, to Parthia.

          Hark, Ventidius.

        CAESAR. I do not know, Maecenas. Ask Agrippa.

        LEPIDUS. Noble friends,

          That which combin'd us was most great, and let not

          A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,

          May it be gently heard. When we debate

          Our trivial difference loud, we do commit

          Murder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,

          The rather for I earnestly beseech,

          Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,

          Nor curstness grow to th' matter.

        ANTONY. 'Tis spoken well.

          Were we before our arinies, and to fight,

          I should do thus. [Flourish]

        CAESAR. Welcome to Rome.

        ANTONY. Thank you.

        CAESAR. Sit.

        ANTONY. Sit, sir.

        CAESAR. Nay, then. [They sit]

        ANTONY. I learn you take things ill which are not so,

          Or being, concern you not.

        CAESAR. I must be laugh'd at

          If, or for nothing or a little,

          Should say myself offended, and with you

          Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at that I should

          Once name you derogately when to sound your name

          It not concern'd me.

        ANTONY. My being in Egypt, Caesar,

          What was't to you?

        CAESAR. No more than my residing here at Rome

          Might be to you in Egypt. Yet, if you there

          Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt

          Might be my question.

        ANTONY. How intend you- practis'd?

        CAESAR. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent

          By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother

          Made wars upon me, and their contestation

          Was theme for you; you were the word of war.

        ANTONY. You do mistake your business; my brother never

          Did urge me in his act. I did inquire it,

          And have my learning from some true reports

          That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather

          Discredit my authority with yours,

          And make the wars alike against my stomach,

          Having alike your cause? Of this my letters

          Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,

          As matter whole you have not to make it with,

          It must not be with this.

        CAESAR. You praise yourself

          By laying defects of judgment to me; but

          You patch'd up your excuses.

        ANTONY.